Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Sharpton Calls Cain A Hypocrite, Peyser Calls Cain's Accuser A Gold-Digger
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 8, 2011
Modified Nov 8, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 8, 2011
Modified Nov 8, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The revelations from Sharon Bialek that Republican frontrunner Herman Cain allegedly grabbed her genitals, pushed her head toward his crotch and said, "You want a job, don't you?" back in 1997 have provoked the NY Post's Andrea Peyser to paint the blond mother as a gold digger AND harsh on her make-up: "Sharon Bialek is 50, out of work and, according to one who knows her, she’s a smooth operator living way above her means. From the look of her heavily painted face, she’s also soon to be in acute need of a new tub of eyeliner."
In fact, Peyser cites an unnamed acquaintance of Bialek to round out her story, "According to someone who knows Bialek: 'She has a very infectious personality. It’s easy to see how she won [Cain] over. But the reality of her situation is -- she’s a complete gold digger. It’s all about the money.' The friend said she comes from a lower-middle-income family, but lives in a posh apartment running from bill collectors. 'Most of her jobs ended in termination. It’s always the employer’s fault, not hers.... This is a lady who lives off the system. She is hellbent on finding a way of never having to work and living the lifestyle she wants to live, a very affluent lifestyle. In my next life, I want to come back as her.'" Peyser also tries to question Bialek's allegations, "Now, I love a good romantic farce as much as the next bored housewife. But the question remains: Why sit on this seeming sexual assault for 14 years?"
Cain himself has been trying to cast Bialek in an unflattering light, mentioning her brushes with bankruptcy, and has been blaming his sexual harassment allegation troubles on race. Which the Rev. Al Sharpton finds laughable. Sharpton told the Daily News, “I think it’s the height of hypocrisy for Herman Cain to say three weeks ago that race was no longer a major factor in this country. Now that he's a target, he gets on Fox and says ‘Yes, race has something to do with it.’” Sharpton added, "So let me get this right: there is no racism for those that are disproportionately unemployed or disproportionately incarcerated, but it’s race if four women come forward and say you allegedly harassed them?”
Tagged
al sharpton
andrea peyser
gold digger
herman cain
hypocrisy
race
rev al sharpton
sharon bialek
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
Manhattan prosecutors say Ulrich’s predecessor at the buildings department will testify in the trial against him.
By
David Brand
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 3:47 p.m. ET
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
Nearly 1 million in the city risk losing benefits as a result of new federal restrictions.
By
Caroline Lewis
News
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
Nearly 1 million in the city risk losing benefits as a result of new federal restrictions.
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
By
Karen Yi
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
By
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .